Chris Lakey Simon Lappin looks set to remain out in the cold at Carrow Road - barring a catastrophe.The Scot hasn't played for Norwich since the infamous defeat at Plymouth just over a year ago, which manager Glenn Roeder has always regarded as a watershed game.

Chris Lakey

Simon Lappin looks set to remain out in the cold at Carrow Road - barring a catastrophe.

The Scot hasn't played for Norwich since the infamous defeat at Plymouth just over a year ago, which manager Glenn Roeder has always regarded as a watershed game.

The likes of David Strihavka, Julien Brellier and Ian Murray were shown the exit door as Roeder began his purge of the City dressing room.

But Lappin, who joined City from St Mirren in January 2007, remained on the books, spending time on loan at Motherwell, with his salary believed to have kept other inquiries to a minimum.

It has left him consigned to the occasional game in the reserves as he has watched Roeder brings in a steady flow of new faces.

The 25-year-old excelled as he cajoled a young second string team to a 4-2 win over Arsenal's reserves on Tuesday, but unless Roeder suddenly finds himself short of left-sided players, then that's exactly where he will remain.

“While he's here everyone's got a chance, but he is down the pecking order,” said Roeder. “We've got Ryan Bertrand and Adam Drury in front of him. If both of those weren't to be involved then there is a possibility, but he's a fair way down the pecking order.

“Everyone knows what I think of Ryan, and Adam as well. I believe in being fair and if someone does well, even if they're not in your plans I think you have got to be big enough and be honest and say they did well, and he was terrific in the way that he helped those young players the other night and I was pleased for him.

“I thought Simon's attitude was absolutely superb and I said that to him the next morning. I shook his hand and said that was fantastic - not that I was surprised because he has maintained his dignity around Colney exceptionally well considering that he is not involved and unlikely to be involved in the team.

“I would defend Simon Lappin right to the hilt if anyone was critical of him as a person. He's a real good guy, and he comes to training every day and he puts it in every day and you can see how he played against Arsenal's kids the other night. I thought he was excellent and he knocked in some wonderful balls, some lovely diagonal balls.

“But he knows the future's away from here. I am very surprised someone no one has come in to take him on loan - it just shows you the state of the game.”